Bismarck and the German Empire

by Erich Eyck

"Authoritative, illuminating and easy to read. . . . Dr. Eyck, in his excellent book, has exposed the many fallacies of which Bismarck legend is compounded. His analysis is tragic and austere."― The Observer For most people Bismarck is the man of "blood and iron"; he coined the phrase himself and he lived up to it. But he was much more; he had an itellectual ascendancy over all the politicians of his day, and his superiority was acknowledged not only by his own people, but by all European statesmen.

The unification of Germany, the defeat of Austria, the fall of the Second Empire, the defeat of France, the alliance of the German Empire and the Habsburg Monarchy, the dismemberment of Denmark―these are his most obvious achievements; no less important was the transformation in the national consciousness of the German people, for which Bismarck was also responsible. Dr. Eyck has analyzed not only the personality but also the accomplishments of a statesman whose influence on Europe in the latter half of the nineteenth century was more far-reaching than that of any other man in his time.

This edition contains minor corrections and a new foreword by the author's son Frank Eyck, also a nineteenth-century historian, evaluating some of the important publications in the field since the book appeared and illuminating his father's attitude to Bismarck.

Genres: History, Biography, Germany, Nonfiction, 19th Century, Politics, European History

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

A German lawyer and politician, Erich Eyck was the author of a number of German language histories and biographies, several of which were translated into English.

Reviews

[Logan Crossley]

I read this relatively short book over the course of many months, using it sometimes as a way to pass the time on flights, sometimes as a thought-provoking guide through somewhat dense history, and sometimes as a drink coaster on my nightstand.

In the end, two takeaways seemed salient:

1. Professor Eyck’s post World War II perspective provides a fascinating extra layer of meaning to Bismarck’s story. The “blood and iron” Reichskanzler seems altogether less intimidating from the vantage of hindsight; everything he fought for, stood up for, betrayed others to bring about, envisioned for himself and for the German people, negotiated over—all of it seems somewhat silly and anodyne when considered as precursor to the horrors in store for the Germany of the 20th century. Indeed, the institutions built, manipulated, and stewarded by Bismarck would be dashed on the rocks of history just two decades after his death, as the final lines of the book remind us. I couldn’t help but trace the straight-line path between the sort of dispassionate nihilism that was characteristic of some of Bismarck’s more bald-faced aggressions and the later world-devouring inhumanity of the Nazis. I’m left to ponder deeper, “what the hell is the point?”-type questions.

2. There’s a certain arrogance we have, though we come by it honestly, when we take up the depressive view that things are now (a) worse than they’ve ever been, (b) getting worse, and (c) wholly unprecedented. All the shades of our modern debates—about freedom versus order, class disputes, the personal dimension of politics, the role of “will” versus reason versus divine Providence in the affairs of people—are echoes of debates that have come before. Smart people (but also wicked people, and pragmatic people, and weak people, and kind, compassionate people) have had almost all of these debates before, and the reason the argument continues is that oftentimes the ideas that animate the political philosophy of one side or the other cannot or will not find pure expression in a chaotic world. Thus, some combination of the way the wind blows and the raw power of ideas to captivate, persuade, and inspire determines which viewpoint proves ascendant in any given age. Throughout this book, I found myself coming to a better understanding of modern-day fellow citizens who hold political views I disagree with; I also felt that I might be able to study the example of some of history’s lesser-known ministers and plenipotentiaries who sparred with the Bismarcks of their eras, sometimes with limited or no success but from ideologies that have endured longer and more heartily than a monarchist Junker’s Realpolitik.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a post war take on Bismarck and the formation of the German state. Eyck is critical of Bismarck throughout, he paints him as passionate yet disingenuous, a man solely after his own ends. Bismarck ends up a man both super qualified and unique, and yet seemingly inhuman in ability to create achievement. It all seems that what happened in the First and Second World Wars were set in motion by Bismarck himself.

Post war criticisms of Germany continue to seep into Eyck’s take on the state of Germany. Eyck tries to support the idea that the nation of German was one that didn’t want to be unified. After unification he makes it look like that Germany was politically in his view out of step with how acceptable nations should act. The impression I picked up was that nations should be more internationally concerned then nationally concerned. Bismarck and Germany make the error of putting the German people and nation first, Eyck clearly believes this position.

If you are looking for a historical account on the formation of the German state and Bismarck this will work fine to get you started. It’s not a “fun read” but you will learn and grasp what some saw Bismarck was. It definitely has a bias against nationalism, but that is expected in a book written by a German after the Second World War.

[Gleb Posobin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hard to read for a history noob like me (though more accessible than the Pflanze's version that I have tried reading before) so one reading was certainly not enough. I don't have much background to easily remember the described events, and it was hard when reading to figure out what was more important and what was less so and to keep the overall picture in mind. But now I am convinced that Otto von Bismarck is fascinating, and for a more knowledgeable reader this book is probably great (but don't know how well it holds up after 50 years since the second edition was published). Will either reread or read another biography of Bismarck at some point this year.

[Hubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book that helps to understand the making of modern Europe. Interestingly enough Bismarck shared some traits with Trump: populist, not afraid if foul play and bribing. But someone with a clear vision.

[Stephen Durrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a number of books about Bismarck & by a number of authors, but until reading this book don’t think I had quite realised what a clever but lying, scheming, deceitful person he was.

[William R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best coverage of Bismarck. Read in high school history class the first time but go back to it regularly

[Edwile Mbameg]

An interesting read for 3 reasons;

1. Bismarck was a skillful politician though a reactionary one. He understood the game of alliances which characterized European Diplomacy for many centuries contributing to 2 great wars. Power politics and strenuous alliances at the end -with other factors- led Europe and the World into ruins.
The role of the German Empire -and its creator; Bismarck- can be appreciated while reading Erich Eyck. Bismarck was "Severely Conservative" to borrow from Gov. Mitt Romney. He failed -or refused- to see that as Germany was industrializing, the Conservative Power structure -At the head the Emperor surrounded by land owners; Junkers; Bismarck was a Junker- was becoming irrelevant and needed reform which would have allowed Progressive forces to participate in Government. Bismarck and his fellow Conservatives were determined to placate Progressive forces regardless of the consequences.

After Bismarck's resignation the plane was left without a pilot.

2. Germany and the European Union. As the European Union is going through an economic and monetary crisis which threatens its very existence, all the eyes are on Germany for leadership. There's a form of Irony in this.

3. Question: Can Germany, the strongest economy on the Continent, lead Europe to a closer integration?

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bismarck was a brilliant and ruthless political tactician; his success at concentrating power at the top of the new German state proved catastrophic after he was forced to resign and cede that power to Wilhelm II:

'He left his work in the hands of a man who was quite unable to develop it or, indeed, to preserve it. That was Germany's misfortune. But it was Bismarck's fault that this man possessed power far too great for a mediocre mortal. And it was, too, Bismarck's fault that there was no parliament capable of bridling this extravagant ruler, and that there was far from enough independence of mind in the German people.

'Under Bismarck's leadership the German nation had become united, strong, and powerful. But the sense of freedom and individual independence, of justice and humanity, had been lamentably weakened by Realpolitik and Interessenpolitik - the politics of power and of material interest - and by the personal régime which the Iron Chancellor had imposed upon his countrymen. It is therefore no mere chance that his work did not last, and that the Prussian crown and Hohenzollern dynasty, which he had exalted to heights never before known, ceased to exist twenty years after his death.'

[Dan Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up at a used book store in Vermont. Ever since I first travelled to Deutschland I have wondered about the 'crazy quilt' politics of that place. Here is a good book to begin the hunt. You might want to pick up a map - and alongside the faithful wikipedia - you can thread some concepts together for yourself.

You will probably recognize the more nefarious aspects of Bismarck, even though Eyck is largely apologetic, in the machinations of our current pestilence of 'statesmen'. Bismarck apparently built the better mousetrap, then caught his own country in the damn thing once he was 'fired' by Kaiser Bill 2. He was certainly a patriot, not sure about his scruples. I'm sure he would laugh to hear me bring it up.

This book is interesting to read along side 'The Education of Henry Adams'. I'm trying to build an apprehension of western history - currently finishing Schiller's 'History of the Thirty Years War'.

Cheers

[Ernani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and easy to read prose. The author knows his subject and presents a balanced though critical view of Bismarck. He gets into the details of the domestic political battles waged by Bismarck to preserve and expand his power. Those details (like the tariff discussion) can get very in the weeds of domestic policy but add essential elements to understand Bismarck's actions in foreign policy. This is a very good biography to start learning about Bismarck and the creation of the German nation. It's especially good for those who care about internal politics, like the development and early functioning of the German federal legislature.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative and detailed biography about Bismarck, which I've come to admire. The thesis in itself is interesting: How did Bismarck's policies of "blood and iron" and
"realpolitik" from the late 1800s translate into Nazi Germany of World War II. It really went into all the unethical things Bismarck did to achieve his goals. At times, the book was hard to keep with, mostly because there were so many members of the monarchy who played a part in that time of history, but overall, it's a very true piece of work.

[Stewart Cotterill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have been a student of European Political History at some time in your life, then this book will capture the interest in mid to late 19th century European politics.

This book shows Bismarck for what he probably was. A bully but a creator of a nation.

An interesting idea is put forward in this book as to what might have happened had Germany and Great Britain signed a treaty of understanding in 1879, which Bismarck never followed through on. Unfortunately for the 20th century this idea stayed just that.

[Anthony Zupancic · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's chronological and very detailed; presented like "the story of Bismarck," which can make it slow reading at times. But, Eyck's detail is illuminating: the book presents an intimate portrait of Bismarck. Eyck certainly suggests that Otto was a force of evil in Germany, but his judgement is not overbearing. This is a great basis for a screen play of the inevitable mini-series or movie of the near future.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slim but well documented and well reasoned analysis of Reichskanzler Otto von Bismarck's career. The book's German author does a good job of balancing respect for the fierce intellect and skills of the man who invented realpolitik and dominated late 19th century foreign policy, while also highlighting his lack of moral depth and fundamental flaws. Made want to read much more about this era.

[Claire Baxter · Rating 3 out of 5]

While interesting, this book was tough going. There was very little biographical information about Bismarck's life but a lot of in depth politics which for those without a reasonable knowledge of European politics and geography at that time makes for heavy reading.

[Calzean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that focuses on Bismarck's political manoeuvres that saw the formation of Germany. The author had a love/hate feel about Bismarck. Very thorough, readable and enjoyable.

[Daniel Free]

Avancerad.